Centrifugal separator



May 28, 1929. B. vc. CARTER CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR Filed Deo. l0, 1928 a V8 Sheets-Sheet' VMay 28, 1929. B. c. CARTER CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR 8 Sheets-Shet Filed Dec. 10, 1928 May 28, 1929.

B. C. CARTER CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR Filed Dee. 1o, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet May 28,1929.l Y 'B QCARTER 1,714,658

CENTRIFUGAL S EPARATOR Filed Deo. 1o, 1928 8 sheets-sheet 4- Wvg/v70@ 67m MM May 28, 1929. B. c.v CARTER l CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR Filed Dec. 10,- 1928 i a sheets-sheet 4.,' man@ B. C. CARTER 1 GENTRIFUGAL sEPARAToR May 28, 1929.

Filed Dec. 10, 1928 8 sheets-skin 712k. I W

May 28, 1929.

CARTER CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATO R Filed Dec. io, 1928 v 8 sheets-sheet 7 vvv veff

May 28, 1929. B', (j, CARTER ,7l4,658

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR MMM/M' Patented 2&9 QZQQ g rar ies.

enncrnrruean SEPA'RATOR.

Application filed December 10, 1928, Serial No. 325,132, and in Great Britain OctqherflS, 1927.

'ilhis invention relates to rotary or centrifugal coolers and rotary or centrifugal separators for treating liquids or gases.

According to one feature of the invention 5 a rotary or-centrifugal separator is combined with arotary or centrifugal cooler.

According to another feature of the invention a combined separator and cooler comprises a rotor provided with nozzles or the 1,0 like for distributing or spraying separated fluid against the interior surface of a cooling chamber, the jets of fluid serving to drive or aid in driving the rotor. i

According to another feature of the invention, the fluid cooler comprises a rotary or centrifugal distributing or spraying device for delivering the fluid against the interior surface of a cooling chamber. i

According to another feat-ure of the invention, the axial iiow centrifugal separator comprises a stationary easing containing a rotor having an inner rotary cylindrical wall or structure formed with radial passagesor perforations through which solid or other impurities to be separated pass radially inwards or outwards, and an outer rotary cylindrical wall of imperforate eonstructionon which solid impurities chieily collect, the rotor being supported within the casing by means of pivot bearings, one pivot being hollow to forni an entrance passage for the liquid or fluid to be treated, and the other being solid, and the outlet for liquid or air or gas from the rotor being in the form of nozzles or the like and arranged tangen-tially in such a manner thatthe rotor is driven by the issuing fluid or separated fluids.

Some of the nozzles may be inclined togive the fluid jets a slight upward direction, and some of thcnozzles may be inclined to give the fluid jets a slight downward direction. In this arrangement, the liquidgjets sweep out the upper and lower portions or different portions respectively, of the interior surface may be arranged inside and outside the cool.- lng chamber. The nozzles/may be made in the form of round holes or 1n the form of slits. rllhe nozzles may be of thimble., form provided with holes countersunk on the outl side, so that for oil or thellike the jet issues interior surface of the Cooling chamber in of the cooling chamber. Projections or tinsl the forni of spray. The fluid to .be cooled travels at' high speed in lines tangential to the circle described by the outlet reaction nozzles of the'rotor.

The rotor may conveniently be turned at speeds in the region of .8000 to 10,00() R. P. M., and the velocity of the liquid relative to the surface upon which it impinges may be in the region of ft. per sec. or more. Under these conditions, the 4transfer of heat from fluid to metal is eflicient.

A relief valveV I'nay be provided in the cleaner or otherwise for bypassing lthe liquid in the event ofthe pressure in a pipe line leading to the cleaner rising to a predetermined value.

The cooling action may be regulated by adj ustable guards or delectors to determine the quantity of the fluid jet entering the eooling regions of the cooling chamber or the amount of exposure ofthe cooling chamber to the airflow. 'Dctlectors or guards may also be provided eixjtending `from the interior surface of the cooling Chamber to between the liquid jets and the a'ir or gas jets to aid in keeping these fluids separate from oneanother. Annular or other screens may be provided for shielding the outside of the separator' rotor from issuing liquid and for aiding in keeping apart any separated fluids, and separate passages may be provided for leading oil' separated cooled liquid, air or other gas, and any bypassed liquid to a tank or reservoir for the liquid.

The provision of means in the separator whereby air or gas in a liquid is separated and led from the air or gas nozzles in the rotor `principally through a passage which is separate from. that down which the cooled liquid, such as oil, is drained, obviates or minimizes frothing. The air or gas nozzles may be made of such a" size that all the air or gas and a little liquid flow through them with automatic intermittent action owing to plugs of liquid intermittently accumulating in the conduits leading to these nozzles. i

In' aninternal lcombustion engine lubricating system, the oil may be contaminated ,with fuel of lower specific gravity, and in this case if'the oil is treated in the `separator the fuel maybe caused to issue with the separated air or gas and be prevented from returning int-o the oil circulatingfsystem.

When the liquid in the pipe line leading to thecleaner is so cold that more than a specified pressure (say lbs. per sq. in.) is neces;

, valve associated with the separator bypasses entering the rotor.

'the bulk of the liquid past the rotor so that it drains back to the tank orreservoir without The distinct passage for the cooled liquid is arranged so that it cannot obtain access to the separator casing and thus produce a braking effect on the rotor. The cooling chamber drains itself naturally to the passage for the cooled liquid,`and thus cannot become charged with congealed oil. As the cooling chamber is never ,subjected to pressure, it can be made of light construction.

The combined separator and conler are particularly applicable for 'use on air craft,

motor cars or other vehicles, for cleaning orv cooling engine oil. The cooling chamber may be 'exposed to the relative air flow past the vehicle outside a cowl or other surface on the vehicle. The separator casing may project from the cowl on the aircraft, or may be entirely enclosed by the cowl or by the cowl and the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber maybe of lenticular, dome or other suitable iorm.l A

The cleaner may be v'connected to the oil and air discharge `from the scavenge pump 7.

the hollow pivot 6 at'the bottom (Fig. 2), Y

of an internal combustion engine so that the separatoris operated by hot aerated oil. The coolingis eii'ected after the cleaning,V for which latter high temperature is advantageous. 7 l

The invention is illustrated in the accom-l panying drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are longitudinal sections at right anglesto one another of one form of combined rotary separator and rotary cooler;

Figs. 3 and i are respectively a longitudirotary separator and rotary cooler;

Figs. 5, 7 and 6 are respectively a. longitudinal section, a sectional detail,'and a frag-- mental plan viewwith parts removed,- of another form of combined rotary separator and rotary. cooler Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are general arrangement views showing the application of a combined rotary separator and rotary cooler toy an oil tank on an aeroplane or the like;

Figs; 11. and 12 are longitudinal sections at right angles to one anotherof onexfo'rm of rotary separator; Y y

Figs. 13v and 14 are respectively'a planland aftransverse section of Fig. 11; Figs. 15 and 16 .are respectivelya longitudinal section and a transverse section ofia det-ail of another form of rotary separator; and

Figs. 17 to 28 are diagrammatic longitudilnal sections of different forms of' rotary separators in cooler casings. i

Like reference numerals .indicate similar parts wherever repeated in the drawings, in

whichzf-The rotary separator is shown -as A work.

consisting of a'stationary casing 1, a rotor 2 having an inner rotary wall 3 formed with radial passagesA 4 through which impurities to be separated pass radially inwards or outwards, and an outer rotary imperforate wall 5 on which solid impurities chiefly collect- The surface of which the fluid issuing from theV outlets 8 is cooled. -v i The pivot bearings at the inlet end may consist of a running gland 11 outside a sta tionary gland bush' 6 (Fig. 2), or arunning gland `bush 6 inside'a stationary gland 12 (Fig. k28). The pivots may be of spherical form, as shown, in the region-of contact with cylindricalA bearing surfaces in which they Thrust may beltaken by aV ball 13 (Fig. 5) engaging the, end of the solid pivot If, however. the cleaner is installed with the weight of the rotor may be utilized to re- .i

duce the thrust due to liquid pressure. When this pressure is low the rotor -may be locatedA axially by engagement between a shoulder.

on the hollow pivot 6 and one end of the gland 11 or 12; The casing 1 may be of open- "form (Fig. 1). or of enclosed form (Fig. 15)

and is provided with a drain 15 for liquid which has escaped thereint'o orV for liquid which is bypassed as hereinafter referred to,

andthe 'drain is located at such a position that the liquid is discharged -rom the rotorY at .the lower end of th separator.

The rotor may be provided with tranlsverse vanes 16 dividing it into laminated separating zones and with axial-radial vanes 17. In Figs. 5 to 14, the vanes -16 'consist of a tierof separated channel-section annular trays t ting into the rotor 2 and provided at their inner peripheries with lips or iianges which conjointly form the inner rotor wall 3. The

`. spaces between these lips or`` flanges consti- Y tute the passages 4. in such wall and they communicate with an annular space 19 (Fig.

,11). for liquid to be treated to -iiow through.

las`

ter is collected chiefly on the outer anges or wall. 0n shutting down, relatively heaviy liquid s uchas water, or fine congealed matter, in the traysv 1s retained ther-em. The

trays may be carried on a frame formed by the axial-radial vanes 17 surrounding the yair or gas tube 20, the frame being so shapcd Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the separator casing 1 is made fast to the cooling chamber 10 by means of a cylindrical coupling 21 which at one side is supported by a hollow standard 22 forming an outlet for cooledcleaned liquid from the cooling chamber. and at the other side is supported by a hollow standard divided into two separate branches 23, 15, respectively for separated air or gas and liquid which has leaked or been bypassed into the separator casing 1. The separator is similar to that shown in Figs. 1l to 14 but inverted and will be described with reference to these figures also. Theliquid to be treated enters the separator casing at 25 and passes therefrom past an inner casing 26, which bears on an annular seating 27 in the separator casing 1 under the pressure of a spring 28 and normally divides the casing 1 into two parts. The spring bears against a detachable 4cover 29. The cover may be screwed on the casing and secured by a detent 30, which is pivoted on the casing and engages oneor a 'series of notches inthe edge of the cover. and by'a spring 31 anchored in another of the notches. The liquid can pass from the inlet 25 into one end of the casing 1 and thence through a passage 32 to an axial passage 33 in the casing 26 'and leading to the interior of the rotor 2. The inner casing also has an inlet 34 normally closed by a valve 35 and 'leading through an inlet 36 to the other end of the casing 1 beyond the inner casing 26. The valve 35 is arranged with its axis diametrically 'of the casing 1 and consists of a self-centering disc-valve. which is pressedon to its seating by a piston 37 working in a., cylindrical portion of the inner casing 26 and acted on by two springs '38.

--coarse mesh gauze or other filter 3S) is arranged over the inner casing 26 or at other convenient position for excludingr pieces of material large enough to choke the nozzles 8,

Cal

,A able inclination.

moved for periodically emptying separated which maybe in the region of ,HT inch diameter or more. The end 40 of the casing. where the solidpivot 7 is situated. may be made detachable as shown in Figs. 11 and 12'. and be secured by a circular clip 41 sprung into engagement withy grooves in lugs on the part 40 and the casing 1.

The cooling chamber 10. is shown of lenticular form and composed of two nearly ,i identical castings bolted together at the outer peripheries.

The cooling chamber 10 and the separator casing 1 are located in axial alignment, and may be arranged vertically or at any suit- The rotor 2 may be reforeign matter,.by opening either end of the separator in the arrangement shown in Figs. 11 and 12, or by opening the lower end of the separator in' the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The part 2() is made as an extractor screw, so that by turning the same with a screw driver the centre portion ofthe rotor carrying the trays 16 and frame 17 may be removed from the wall5. The rotor wall 5 may be slightly tapered to, facilitate this extraction. The cooling chamber in Figs. 1 and 2 has its top halfclosed by a cover 42, which .permits the rotor to be removed through the cooling chamber in some cases. 4The cleaner casing 1 is of cage or skeleton form, to allow .the jets of liquid and/ or gas issuing from the nozzles 8 and 9 to pass into the cooling chamber 10. A.

43 is a screen for shielding the-outside of the rotor 2 from. issuing liquid, and 48* is a deflector for aiding in keeping apart separated liquid and air or gas.

44 are projections inside the cooling chamber, and 45 are cooling {i'ns outside the cooling chamber. i

F igs. 3 and 4 show a simplified form of the combined separator and cooler just described. The cooling chamberlO has plain surfaces and is connected to the separator casing by means of a coupling', 21. The coupling is made in,y two parts connected by swivel bolts i 46. The top part can be removed bodilywith the cooling chamber from the: bottom part,

when inspection of the separator is required.

22 and the bypassed liquid from the drain 15 meet one another. The separated air or gas passes to the passage 23, whence it may be led olf separately from the liquid.

Figs. 5 to 7 show another form of combined separator and cooler. 'In this arranmement the separator casing is formed as a cooling chamber 1, or 10, and is made in two separable parts connected together by swivel boltsvas in Fig. 3. The top part is dome shaped, and the bottom part is cylindrical.

` The inlet 25 to the separator is arranged as a forked passage 47 leading to an annular passage 48, which in turn leads by radial ports 49 to the axial inlet 6 of the rotor. The dome can be removed to. give access to the separator, which is centred'during this operation by supporting studs 50.

443 is a screen for the rotor, which also aids 1n keeping apart separated liquid issuing Lfrom the nozzles 8, and separated air or gas issuing from' the nozzles 9. The separated air or gas passes to the nozzles 9 througha central air tube 20, which latter is fed through llO radial holes 20* near the inner wall 3 of the j l Referring to Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the numeral 53 represents an oil or the like tank covered by a cowl 54 on an aeroplane or the like vehicles. The cooling chamber 10 projects more or less beyond the cowl in Figs. 8 and 9, and in Fig. 10 is constituted by the cowl itself.

' 54* is a detachable shield for controlling the cooling effect.'

In Figs. 8 and 9, the coupling 21 connect- `ing'the cooling chamber and the separa-tor is mounted directly on the tank.

In Fig. 9, the passages 22 and 15 lead directly to the tank.` In Fig. 8, the passage 22 leads directly to the tank, but the passage leads by an extension 15* directly to a sump 55 in the tank, which is connected to the .suction side of the oil feed or pressure pump of the aero engine or the like. The inlet -to the separator is connectedrto the oil and air discharge from the scavenging pumpof the hen the oil is cold it is bypassed from the relief valve tothe sump and the suction side of the pressure pump, and as the oil becomes Warmer the pressure pump takes an increasing proportion -of oil from the oil tankcentrifuged all they time, but not merely an isolated portion.

When a relief valve is associated with the separator, the relief valve in the pressure pump may be dispensed with and its function fulfilled by the separator which is so installed as toconstitute a permanent leak, the valve in the cleaner preventing the oil pressure from becoming excessive.

In Fig. 10,` the combined separator and cooler is supported on,a perforated, dia\ phragm 56 across the top of the tank 53. l The general form4 of the centrifugal separator may be according to that described in my` British patent specification No. 258,204.

Various arrangements for separating and cooling two fluids may be employed,- accord ing-to the conditions and requirements of the case." For exampleapa'rtfrom vldirt-'extraction there may be two liquids,\two gases, or

. Y a liquid and a gas to separate.' lVith two liqnids, the heavier ofthe lighter 'may prepon-v derate. The case'of two liquids with a preponderance of the lighter` one arises in the separationY of water from petrol; the reverse.

4- case may arise inthe refining ofoil .or'in the separation of oil from water on ships. Either or both of the fluids may be delivered into a Ypipe line, qr it may for one-0r. both t0 -In Figs. 15 and 16 liquid to be treated fiows axially through the perforate central tube or inner Wall 3, entering at 25. The light liquid discharges through the nozzles 9 intothe coolling chamber 10, and the heavy liquid discharges from near the outer wall 5 of the rotor through radial conduits 57 to a central conduit 58, whence it passes through a run ning gland 59 to outside the separator, under the control of va cock 60. 61 is the outlet forthe lighter liquid.

In another arrangement (Fig. 17), the rotor has the inlet 6 at the top, and tangential or helical outlets 8 at the bottom. Separation takes place through a perforated tube or the like?, andthe separated liquid is retained in removable trays'16 in the rotor 2. Alter'- lnatively (Fig. 18), separation may take place 4'through a perforatcdtube 3 Without trays,

or (Fig. 19) between perforated transverse dises 3, in which cases the lower part of the rotor 2 may be formed-as a reservoir 62 for separated liquid.

In a modification (Figs. 20 to 22) the rotor 2 has the inlet 6 at the bottom and tangential out-lets 8 at the top. An annular Vscreen 43 maybe used to shield the rotor 2 from issuing liquid (Figs. 2O and 21).

In another arrangement (Fig. 23), the rotor 2 has the 'inlet 6 at lthe top and tangential outlets 8, 9, for two fluids at the bottom and top. .Alternatively (Fig. 24), the rotor 2 has the inlet 6 atthe bottom and tangential outlets 8, 9, for two fluids at the top.'` Y

In another arrangement (Fig. 25), the rotor 2 has the inlet 6 at the top and tangential outlets 8, 9, for tWo fluids at the bottom. Alternatively (Fig. 26) ,therotor 2 may have the inlet 6 at the'bottoin and tangential outlets 8, 9 fortwo fluids at the bottom and top.

In this case afscrcen 43 for shielding the rotor 2 from issuing liquid maybe employed. In another arrangement (Fig. 27), the rooutlet 63 controlled by a valve 64 for another fluid at the betteln. Alternatively (F ig. 28), the rotor 2 has the inlet 6 atthe bottom, tangential outlets 8 for one fluid at the top and -an'annular outlet 63 controlled by a valve 64 for another fluid at the bottoni.. In each case, a cylindrical screen 43 for shielding the rotor froinissuing liquid may be employed.

When a solid is separatedfrom a HuidJhe solid accumulates on the imperforate wall of f the rotor.- c'

In each' ofthe arrangements shown in Figs. 17 to 28,'y the tangential or' helical outlets. de-

:tor 2 has the inlet 6 at the-top, tangential outlets 9 'for one Huid at the top, and an annular liver the Huid against the wall, of ,a vchamber l i 1 0 which serves as a cooling chamber.

Although theseparators according to the imaess invention have been described in associationfluid to be separated to the rotor; meansfor separating solid constitutents from the fluid; and a multiplicity of nozzles 'on said rotor through which the separated fluid is discharged in jets against theinner wall of the stationary casing and to drive the rotor solely bythe reaction produced by the jets.

2. In a rotary lseparator, a stationary chamber; a rotor therein; means for supplying fluid to be separated to the' rotor; means for separating solid constitutents from the fluid; and a multiplicity of nozzles on said rotor through which the separated fluid is ldischarged in jets against the inner wall of the stationary chamber and to drive the rotor solely by the react-ion produced by the jets.

3. A separator according to claim l, in

whichv the rotor is supported by pivot bearings, one pivot being hollow to form an inlet to the rotor, andthe other pivot being solid; and in which the nozzles are arranged tangentially to produce the jet reaction.

4f. A separator -according to claim 2, in

which the rotor is supported by pivot bearings, one being hollow to form an inlet to the rotor, and the other pivot being solid; and in which the nozzles are arranged tangentially to produce the jet reaction.

5. A separator according to claim 2, in

which the rotor is supported by pivot bearings, one pivot being hollow to forman inlet to the rotor, and the other pivot being solid;

and in which the inner wall of the rotor is formed with radial passages, while the outer wall is imperforate.

6. In a rotary separator, a stationary chamber; a rotor therein; and a tier of separated,

channel-section annular traysv communicating at their inner peripheries with a space for fluid to fiow through axially and resting 'upon one another at their outer peripheries to form an imperforate wall said trays dividing the rotor into a vertical rating zones. t

7. In a rotary separator, a stationary chamber; a rotor; a tier of separated, channelsection annular trays communicating at their Ainner peripheries with a space for fluid to -flow through axially and resting upon one another at their outer peripheriesto form an imperforate wall, said trays dividing the rotor into a vertical series of separating zones; and a removable frame wherein the trays are carried and which consists of axial radial vanes.

series of sepa- 8. In a rotary separator, a stationary outer casing; a rotor therein; means for supplying fluid tol be separated to the rotor; meansfor separating solid constituents from the fluid; a multiplicity'of' nozzles on said rotor through which the separated fluid is discharged in jets'against the inner .wall of the stationary for separating solid constituents from thel f liquid; a multiplicity of nozzles on the rotor through which the separated liquid is discharged in jets against the innerwall of said chamber and to 'drive the rotor solely by the reaction produced by the jets; and separate passages for leading off cleaned liquid, gase- .ous substance, and bypassed liquid.

l0. In a rotary separator, a stationary chamber; a rotor therein; means for supplying fluid to be separated tothe rotor; means for separating solid constituents from the fluid; a multiplicity of nozzles on the rotor through which the fluid is discharged in jets against the inner .wall of said chamber and to drive the rotor solely by the'reaction produced by the ets and a pair of pivot bearings for supporting the rotor` at opposite ends, one pivot being solid and the other being hollow and providing an 4inlet for material to be separated.

1l. A separator according to claim 10, in which the driving jets are situated at the same end of the rotor as the solid pivot.

12a-In a rotary separator, a stationary casing; a rotor therein; means for supplying liquid to be separated to the rotor; a multiplicity of nozzles on said rotor acting to discharge jets of liquid against the inner wall of the casing and to drive the rotor solelybythe reaction produced by the jets; and a relief valve associated with the liquid-supplying means for bypassing the liquid when its pressure reaches a predetermined degree.

13'. A separator according to claim l2, in which the rotor is supported at one end on a hollow pivot providing an inlet for the liquid;

and in which the liquid-supplying means in- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

isENJAMIN CHARLES CARTER. 

